Sri Lanka Presidential Election Set for Sept. 21

Sri Lanka's election panel has officially approved President Ranil Wickremesinghe to contest the presidential election scheduled for September 21, amid the country's severe economic crisis. Wickremesinghe, who has been in office since July 2022 following the ousting of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is one of 39 candidates running, with his main rivals being Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Backed by a coalition of over 30 political parties, Wickremesinghe has implemented hard economic reforms in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund to stabilize the economy, which has faced significant challenges since the country's first sovereign default last year. He is campaigning under the cooking gas cylinder symbol, reflecting the ongoing struggles with essential commodity shortages that triggered widespread protests. The election is seen as a pivotal moment for Sri Lanka's political landscape, with calls for genuine change from various candidates, including political newcomers like Namal Rajapaksa. Approximately 17 million citizens are eligible to vote in this crucial election.